Here are reviews of the KENREX one-man show/musical at the Lucille Lortel Theatre Off Broadway in New York City in April 2026.
Kenrex’ Review: Plunging Into the Violent World of True Crime
The play, by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian at the Lucille Lortel Theater, tells the story of a brutal bully who was shot and killed in plain view.
This British import, which opened on Sunday at the Lucille Lortel Theater, tells the true story of Ken Rex McElroy, a violent bully who terrorized the rural Missouri town of Skidmore, until the fateful day in July 1981 when he was shot and killed in plain view of many, many witnesses — all of whom said they hadn’t seen anything and couldn’t identify the culprit(s). “Kenrex” now joins the ranks of a McElroy cottage industry that also includes Harry N. MacLean’s best-selling book “In Broad Daylight” (1988), the six-part docuseries “No One Saw a Thing” (2019), and several podcast episodes.
It’s formal that the production distinguishes itself from that pack, a one-man show with a visual and sonic virtuosity that plunges theatergoers into a violent noir world. But the show lacks a critical perspective on the events, besides an epilogue that feels hastily tacked on.
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‘Kenrex’ Off-Broadway review — minimalist true-crime story …
Apr 25, 2026 — I’m always somewhat skeptical of those productions where one person plays 30 characters, but this is the first time it’s felt esse…
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KENREX is can’t miss theater : r/Broadway – Reddit
Apr 18, 2026 — KENREX is can’t miss theater.
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Review Roundup: Jack Holden’s KENREX Opens Off-Broadway
Apr 27, 2026 — Front Mezz Junkies, Ross: Jack Holden’s performance, which just won him and the show a number of Olivier Awards, sits at the elect…
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Kenrex: True Crime Time in Flyover Country – New York Stage …
Apr 27, 2026 — When the climax finally arrives, its dramatization seems insubstantial, particularly for viewers already familiar with the story w…
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Review: Kenrex, a Remarkable Tale of Vigilante Justice in …
Apr 28, 2026 — This is a true story, and while the tale of a tightknit community eking out justice by completely subverting the justice system is…
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KENREX (Lucille Lortel Theatre) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Jack Holden exploits his Everyman qualities in his tour-de-force solo show ‘Kenrex,’ a riveting thriller that plays like a kind of l…
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Review Roundup: Kenrex – News from New York City Theatre
Apr 28, 2026 — “Jack Holden embodies every character in town in a magnetic performance that reminds us why we go to the theater in the first
New York City TheatreAI Summary
Kenrex, Jack Holden’s Off-Broadway solo show at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, has received generally positive reviews for its high-energy, true-crime storytelling, with many critics praising Holden’s performance as 35+ characters. The show is described as a “sweaty tour-de-force” with “breathtaking theatrical force” that explores vigilante justice in small-town America.
Key Takeaways and Reviews:
- Performance & Staging: Critics laud Holden’s stamina and character transformations, enhanced by a “pulsating” country-rock score by John Patrick Elliott and intensive lighting/sound design.
- Narrative: The play is based on a true story of a tight-knit community’s response to a town bully. It plays like a “live, true-crime podcast”.
- Critical Consensus: While widely praised, some reviewers find the show’s frantic pace “excessive” or the one-actor format confusing at times.
- Reception: It is highly recommended by reviewers on BroadwayWorld, TheaterMania, and in user reviews, often described as a “must-see” Off-Broadway production.